The diary post

A night of less sleep than planned and the heater on at first alarm - caves are cold, even in Summer.

Tearing open present and cards as if their opening will bring loved ones closer.

Sitting in a pre dawn cool, with the light beginning to illuminate the rock shapes around me.

Arrival at Goreme confirmed everything I didn't want about the place, a Soho Disco and Karaoke Bar, Flintstones Cave and rows of internet cafes. I am reunited with the couple in front of me on bus from Antalya who lament Goreme's commercialism "we could be anywhere in the world in the village". They confessed they wondered where on earth I was getting off the bus yesterday morning and I got my smug feeling...

We were bundled up and out to where the balloons are unpacked and inflated. They are larger than I imagined and the crews who unpack them are soon dwarved inside them as the cold air flows in.

The burners work their magic and the balloons come to life, right themself and the basket behind it... we are off...

Later that day, a stroll with Tom showing off my Uchisar's back streets, Dad calls and I shelter in a hut to hear him against the wind, breakfast at 1001 with presents from everyone, flowers from Heinke, a book from Lutfi and onyx from his dad. Much later in the day, a date with H, a trip to Goreme, the band plays Cold Chisel and it's the one moment he is charming, like a little boy, a young man.

It's a perfect day.